There are about 200,000 Freemasons in England and Wales, who meet in more than 7,000 lodges.

In the last week, the Guardian reported that two Freemasons' lodges are operating at Westminster - which it said were for MPs and political journalists.

But Dr Staples said that, although the lodges existed, none of their members were MPs or political journalists.

The revelation followed claims that members of the Freemasons were blocking reform in policing. The outgoing chairman of the Police Federation, Steve White, told the Guardian the society was thwarting progress of women and those from black and ethnic backgrounds.

Dr Staples rejected those claims as "laughable".

He told BBC Breakfast: "We're not a secretive society. Nepotism (and) corruption is not tolerated."

He added that the handshake used by members during ceremonies is "not secret" but, when he was asked to demonstrate it to viewers of BBC Breakfast, he declined, saying he had "promised" not to.

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